Mental Skills
Mythical Skills
(logical, sequential, thinking)
(myths, archetypes, storytelling)
Plans
Listing and Prioritizing
Readiness for Change
Behavior Patterns
Transition Styles and Patterns
Somatic Tools
(e.g., walking the 1–10 scale, standing in
options, etc.)
Intuitive Skills
(knowledge based on subtle information)
Intuition
Ritual
Magic Wand
Individual Energy Patterns
Group Energy Patterns
Somatic Tools
(e.g., awareness of physical sensation
connected to emotion or subtle energy, etc.)
The Wisdom of the Whole® coaching
model embraces mental, mythical,
intuitive and spiritual aspects of
coaching. It uses Gebser’s theory to
create evidence-informed coaching
practices and simple yet effective
coaching tools that access all parts
of self.
The table above shows examples
of some coaching tools that match
the ways of knowing, being, thinking
and doing of each structure
of consciousness. An integral
approach is created when a coach
can access and work from all
structures of consciousness. Which
skills do you use in your coaching
practice? To assess your strengths,
place a check mark beside each of
your skills in the quadrants above.
(ayurveda, TCM, etc.)
Somatic Tools (e.g., acting out a story)
Archaic Skills
(undifferentiated oneness or connection to source)
Meditation
Present Moment
Compassion
Sense of Purpose
Breath
Somatic Tools
(e.g., awareness of physical changes connected
with breath or feelings of compassion, etc.)
more clients. Which quadrant(s)
would you like to develop?
An integral coaching approach can
also help your clients move more
quickly and authentically toward
their goals. For example, a coach
with a client focusing on work/life
balance could invite the client to
explore behavior patterns (mental)
and to use imagery (mythical) to
describe an ideal week. She could
also invite the client to notice
any somatic responses such as
tightness in the throat (intuitive)
that might shift when the client
became more compassionate and
clearer about values and sense of
purpose (archaic). Using approaches
from various quadrants accesses
different parts of the self. Drawing
from all four quadrants allows the
whole person to be addressed and
connections between parts of the
self to become clear.
An integral approach not only brings
comfort with and appreciation of
differences, but also awareness of
similarity, connection and being part
of a whole. People are less likely to
harm each other because they realize
the extent of their connection and
oneness. Metaphorically speaking,
they are not inclined use the left
hand to cut off the right hand. This
could result in less violence and could
create more kindness, caring and
consideration for one another and
the planet we live on.
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A multidimensional approach has
even more far-reaching effects
than growing your practice or
helping your clients move more
quickly and authentically. When
both coaches and clients are able
to come from multiple perspectives
as they work with their internal
worlds, they are more accepting
of differences with the people
around them (their external worlds).
As they turn outward, they can
appreciate multiple perspectives
on any topic, celebrate differences,
acknowledge individual gifts and
skills, and discover how individuals
complement one another in a group,
whether it is a family, a health care
team or a division of a company.
Coaching World
How multidimensional is your
coaching? Notice which quadrant
has the most check marks beside
it; chances are you will attract more
clients who are comfortable working
from that quadrant. As you expand
your coaching skill set in more
quadrants, you can then attract
Story
Imagery
Empowerment Language
Dialogue
Personal Constitution